Smile & Love Life!

The day I realized running by feel is AWESOME

Don't get me wrong. I love love love my electronics and gadgets. I mean c'mon I usually don't leave the apartment in running gear sans my ipod and trusty Garmin. Cause what's the fun of running if you can't evaluate every little detail of it later (...and likely make excuses: oh that run was hilly, oh the dog was pulling...blah blah blah that's why my pace was slow)

Let's take a step back shall we? Let me start with, I'm no speed demon on the pavement. I wouldn't say I'm slow but I'm not going 7:30 min/miles or anything. Back in Oct I ran my fastest half marathon up in Baltimore at a 9:08 min/mile pace for a 2:00:xxxxxxx.... we don't talk about those xx's it just upsets me. Ok not really, but those 18 seconds are in the details. ;-) Back to my point. I'm not setting any records out there on the roads. BUT this year I have had one goal: to complete my first Half Ironman. That was it, plain and simple. Fast forward to beginning of January...

I'd signed up for a half marathon training program. Yes, with no half marathon to race at the end. So what was I thinking you ask? I was thinking: I better keep my base up or I won't be ready to start tri training come April/May timeframe.  I thought it was a great idea to train for a half since a half is what I'd have to run in the 70.3 AFTER swimming and biking.  Well, here was the problem...

I hadn't thought about the fact that I would have just finished grad school (FOREVER after 3 years) and that frankly the thought of pushing myself didn't seem appealing. It was much more fun to not have to do anything after coming home from work. Having my weekends back. Being able to read my kindle I got for Christmas (yes, I may be halfway through my 5th book since Dec. 25... what can I say Metro commuting ROCKS! when the trains aren't crazy delayed. *ahem* yesterday...) And spending wonderful amounts of time with the dashingly handsome boyfriend.  So frankly I just didn't want to run. *gasp*

Or better put I didn't want to run because I "had" to. I just wanted to run if I wanted to.  And that's when I made a decision. January would be "No Stress January" and 2012 would be the year of falling in love. Falling in love with whatever I wanted: reading, running, scrapbooking, doing nothing.... ANYTHING!

So let me tell you... this is what I learned... when I don't put pressure on it, I LOVE IT!  I love running again.  And yes, someday will I train, or course! But right now, running is about going when I want to, running as far as I want to, and not overanalyzing. 

Fact: I don't think I've run more than 4 miles at a time in the past 3 weeks.

Fact: I don't run everyday. In fact I don't even have a schedule

Fact: I've become reacquainted with the gym and lifting

Fact: I have run on the treadmill, multiple times, and I don't hate it!!

But the bigger decision I made was that pace didn't matter. I was going to run by feel. Now trust me this doesn't mean the trusty Garmin never comes with me. Sometimes he doesn't, like for my snow run, which may have been the moment I truly fell in love with running again. But let's be realistic. This girl likes to know how far she's run. And that Gramin tells me just that. So I made a compromise: the Garmin can come, but no looking at pace (in reality I'm going to set the handy little device to not show me pace, but I haven't gotten that far yet).  I'm going to run by feel (yes, I'm now getting to the point)

So I set out the other night. Got home from work, laced up my sneakers, grabbed the pup and headed out for a little 4 miler down the morning lit route, because sadly at 6pm it is dark in the DC metropolitan area... and I'm nothing if not safe! ;-)  And I ran by feel.  And I felt good! Very good.  I was having fun, loving life, and chugging along.  I hit my 2 mile mark and turned around. Rowdy was heeling, no cars were honking and it was a lovely 40ish degrees.  Well I finished that run, that 4 mile run and when I got back to my building I looked at my Garmin.  Do you what that little Garmin told me?  He told me I just did 4 miles at 8:43min/mile pace!!  Let me explain what that means.  That means I just ran 4 miles at approximately 45sec/mile faster than I have been for the past month! 45 SECONDS/MILE! All because I just didn't look.

And that is the moment that I realized that running by feel is awesome... because in reality I'm a lot faster than I think I am.

 

 

Ode to Friday

I've decided that I love Friday, specifically this Friday... I know shocking! But not because it leads to a three day weekend (okay, maybe a little because it leads to the weekend. Thanks MLK!... maybe I'll go visit your monument this weekend) But because of these things...

• I remembered why I love 5am (okay fine 5:20am) runs... darkness, quiet, a puppy that isn't being distracted by other dogs
• I found a new, very well lit, early morning run route (two thumbs up for safety!) ps. yes Dad, I wear my reflective vest
• Friday's mean less commuters on the metro... not that I don't love being smooshed up against my favorite 3 brand new friends ;-)
• The man on the metro next to me was oh so polite. He even said, "Have a good day!" when I left to switch trains. Sometimes metro rides redeem my faith in humanity
• My new tea from Teavana is glorious.  mmm mmm good
• It's Friday! Need a say more?

Happy Weekend Everyone!!

2012 Goals!

Anyone who knows me knows that my favorite thing about the new year is new year GOALS!!!  I love love love new year goals!

You see, 2011 was a big year for me...

I ran a marathon.

I turned 30 (ok that was going to happen regardless of anything I did... details).

I started a "new" job in DC. At least temporarily.

I finished my MPA.

I PRed in the half marathon!! (Even if I didn't make my real goal).

 

But I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be an even bigger year! Full of all sorts of crazy adventures, challenges and change. :)

So without furthur ado I give you my Goals for 2012!!

• Read 12 books for fun (this seems small but for someone who's been in school for the past 3 years the thought of reading for pleasure is just wonderful. I may also have an unhealthy addicition to my new kindle! Thanks Tom!)
• Hold a 5 minute plank (I don't know why. I just make these things up for some reason)
• Complete a 70.3! (Yes, that's a half ironman distance)
• Cross 2 things off of my List of Things to Do Before I Die
• Become reintroduced to the world of scrapbooking
• Learn to RELAX
• Log all my running miles for the year

ICE!

I've always wanted to see ICE! at the Gaylord National Hotel.  The hotel pulls out all the stops for holiday decorating and they have a "show" called ICE!  It's tons and tons and tons (that's the technical amount) or ice blocks that take 3 months to carve into scenes. It's amazing.  This year's theme was Merry Madagascar... like the Dreamworks movie!  Who doesn't love a few good penguins (don't lie you know you love them).

So as my graduation present Tom took me down to the National Harbor on Saturday night to see ICE! So much fun.  Dinner, and christmas lights, and characters, and hot cocoa... and yes, it may have been a little chilly. But it was the best present ever.  Cause if you know me at all you know I LOVE Christmas lights!!!!! :)

So I give you our trip in picture form...

Tree on the water... so pretty

 

Clearly I don't EVER pose with the ice sculptures. I just blend right in don't I?

Done aaaaannnnnd DONE!

It's official! Last Thursday I gave my last presentation of grad school. All the papers were handed in and the studying done!

And yesterday I got my final email from my professor. You know, with grades, comments, etc.  I tried to act like I cared. I mean in THEORY I care. But when you've been in school for 3 years while working full time you don't really care anymore.  Maybe that's just me. :)

So it's official. I'm done! When I get that little piece of paper in the mail I will officially have an MPA.

Woo hoo! This is how excited I was in fact....

Because I'm not allowed to talk about Grad School on facebook

My uncle informed me over Thanksgiving that he no longer wanted to read any postings on Facebook that were a countdown to the end of grad school. This uncle shall not be named but I'll just say that it's NOT my dad's youngest brother. ;-)  Anyway... he and I have a difference of recollection of that conversation. Mainly I thought it was no "counting down" but he seems to think it was grad school overall. Well lucky for me who needs Facebook!  I've got a blog!

And at no point did he ever say don't blog about grad school.

So here it is...I have only 2 days, 4 hrs and 5 minutes before I'm down with grad school FOREVER!!!!!!  (no I'm not excited at all. yes I'm being sarcastic)

Today we presented to our client, debriefed her and and handed over all of our deliverables.  I'm pretty sure I almost skipped out of her office. (ok so maybe I did. what's the problem? :) )

So with that you have it. The end is in sight. I can taste it. And feel free to stay tuned for a post in about 2 days, 4 hrs and 6 minutes (ok maybe a little longer) informing you that I indeed survived 3 years of my life. And I may actually be smarter for it!

 

 

24 days 13 hours and 5 minutes

That's how much time is left until my FINAL presentation of grad school! Not that I'm counting (oh yes I am. Very much)

But there is much to do before then...

• Write one Call to Action
• Write one Executive Summary
• Create one Capstone Presentation
• Complete two projects
• Make lots and lots of charts
• Do multiple sets of final edits on Capstone project
• Give two presentations

But it's almost done. And so worth it. In 24 days and 14 hours I will officially have completed my MPA ... and even more exciting: I'll have my free time back!

Here's the surviving 24 days! And to Thanksgiving!! :-)

Baltimore Half Marathon 2011 - Race Recap

The long awaited for recap... I know you've been on the edge of your seat. ;-)

So the this year was the second time I ran the Baltimore Half. Last year I ran with the goal of breaking 2hrs. I didn't meet that goal but I still had a PR (personal record) of 2:07. Not too shabby. HOWEVER there was one major issue with last year...

I let the race beat me.

That is by far much worse than not making my sub 2 hr goal. Much much worse. You see I may not be the fastest girl out there and I likely never will be but I do pride myself on one thing. I'm mentally tough. That's one of the reasons I love endurance sports. It's a mental challenge and I have no one to compete against but myself. Well last year I let this race beat me. Horribly horribly beat me. I went out way too fast. Like 30 seconds per mile too fast for the first 4 miles. And then it was all down hill. Well not literally. It was actually up hill. But I had let my mind beat me.

So 2011 was for redemption! I decided this year I would go sub 2hrs if it killed me!

I trained. I trained pretty well the last month and a half. And that last week I had a plan. I was mentally preparing myself for each mile of that race. I posted the elevation chart right next to my computer at work so I saw it every day. It looked like this:

 Oh yeah. Doesn't mile 4-7 look fun? Yeah, not so much. Here's the thing about Baltimore. It's not horrible. But it's certainly challenging. It's most definitely not a flat course. And it makes you work for it. That's for sure.

 So that last week of training I felt AWESOME! All my tempo runs were spot on. And I felt good. Like "really" good. Like "I might actually do this" good. So Saturday morning came. The fabulous boyfriend picked me up at 0 dark 30 to head up to Baltimore. I explained to him my plan in detail and then proceeded not once but twice to tell him to turn left when I really meant right and getting irritated each time with him when he listened to me and turned left.

Sheesh, can't you read my mind yet? ;-)

Anyway, we made it and after an hour or so of waiting between the marathon start and the half start I was off. Tom left me as I headed to the start line so he could see me between mile 1 and 2.

When I crossed that start line and turned on my Garmin all my worries washed away. I'd trained for this race and I knew the plan. I just had to stick to the plan. I was feeling good as I passed Tom the first time and waved.

But when I saw him at mile 5 I was shocked! He wasn't supposed to see me again until the end but apparently he ran through the streets of Baltimore too just so he could see me.  When I saw him standing there cheering for me I was shocked and so excited. I'm pretty sure I sped up just to impress him. ;-)  But at this point I was doing great. I was 5 miles in and 1 mile into the 3 mile climb and I was under (but within reason) of the goal pace. And I still felt awesome!

When I saw the lake that's when I knew I'd passe mile 7 and was heading toward 8. This was great. Cause the goals was to make it to mile 8 and still feel good and be on pace. And I was. But it was WINDY that day. And going around the lake and then starting the next climb up with the wind blowing hard took a little out of me. When I started up the hill between mile 8 and 9 there was a strong head wind and that was the first time I thought: Leigh just hold on!

I held on. The plan was the just open it up at mile 11 and see what my legs could do. Well at mile 11 I was starting to get a little tired. Nothing crazy just a little. And my avg. pace was right at 9:08. Which is where it needed to be to go 2hrs.

See don't I look happy?

So I decided to just hang on and really open it up at mile 12. So I hung on. And mile 12 came and there were TONS of people. I knew the end was close now. And I was ready. So I started sprinting. Apparently I passed Tom again with probably about 0.4 or 0.3 miles left. If you ask him I looked like I wanted to die but I was running fast so he figured I was ok. haha.

I did want to die but I knew one thing and one thing only: IT WAS GOING TO BE CLOSE! So I decided if I didn't go sub 2hrs I was leaving every little bit of me out on the pavement. So I ran. I ran faster than my legs wanted to run and I crossed the finish line and hit stop on my Garmin. 

And it read 2:00!  Which meant I had no idea if I'd done it. You see 1. my Garmin only counts to the full minute after you've been running for more than an hr and 2. my officially time would be based on my timing chip.

So I stumbled through the crowd grabbed a banana or two and some water and headed for the exit. Where I found my roommate screaming my name. Yes she came to watch me finish! So after a big sweaty hug for Nicky we milled around until we found Tom.  One big sweaty hug for him and grabbing warm clothes from his backpack as Nicky pulled up the race results on her iPhone. (yay technology!)

So here it is folks. The moment you've all been waiting for... My officialy time was..

 

2:00:18!!!

18 seconds over sub 2 hrs! And a 7 minute PR from the same exact course. Now you might think why is she so excited? She didn't make her goal.

But I will say this I felt awesome that day. I left nothing on that course. And the miles flew by. Not once did I think: "I can't believe I have x miles left" And I did what I came to do. I ran my race the way I wanted to. And not once did I let it get the best of me.

I'll get that sub 2hrs. Someday. I have no doubt. And I'd like to think on a less challenging course I would've had it that day. But let's not speculate. I'll just have to find out some other day. :-)

 

Hello November! Where did you come from?

How is it November already!?!  I feel like October just started! October had much excitement though...

First my old roommate got married! Which meant a Columbus Day weekend trip to Effingham, Illinois for a rehearsal, a wedding, some visiting with old friends, and writing a paper. (Because heaven forbid I get anything done earlier in my crazy schedule of a life. And I had a paper due Monday night so writing in the airport I did!)

The wedding was beautiful. Jess looked beautiful. And the other bridesmaids and I only caused a little bit of trouble on our hour long trips between the hotel/reception location and the church. But we did find the ellusive white squirrel! Which Olney is the home of. AND still made it to the hair salon on time at 7:30am! Cause we have our priorities straight. ;-)

And so I recap with 2 pictures. That tell the story of my weekend. I spent the majority of the time with these 2 hooligans...

My crazy friend Katie!

and the dashingly handsome boyfriend (not that I'm biased or anything).

Then there was 10 days of work training which included the weekend. Have you ever tried to work from 8am-10:30pm 10 days straight AND attempt to not fail out of grad school?  I don't suggest it. It's exhausting... but I survived! :)

Oh and that pesky Half Marathon I've been talking about... that one deserves it's own race recap.

Needless to say Rowdy spent much of his month of October in Doggie Day Care and Boarding.  He hates it there, can't you tell? Oh wait they treat him like a king. Now I remember. ;-)

 

 

The day I realized I might actually be as busy as people say I am

Is it possible? Could what the dashingly handsome boyfriend tells me be true? Am I entirely too busy? Do I try to do too much?

Oh my goodness he might just be right!

As I was walking Rowdy tonight and thinking about how the alarm would be going off at 4:30am tomorrow morning because I need to get in an 8 mile training run before work I realized there are really four ways I spend my time:

1. work
2. school
3. running
4. spending time with the dashingly handsome boyfriend (if there's a free minute after 1-3)

And then I realized it may seem like those are the 4 things I do but lets be honest I can't say no so chances are on any given day I'm doing 5 other things also.

I can't believe I'm about to admit this... but I think I might actually be too busy (if there even is such a thing. I mean that's just crazy talk).

And with that I must toddle off to bed. Having admitted to the entire interwebs that I may need to cut back. It's kinda freeing. I have to admit. :)

But that doesn't mean the alarm isn't going off at 4:30am for a training run. I mean let's be honest I do have a half marathon to run in less than 2 weeks and I can taste that sub 2hr time every time my running shoes hit the pavement!